Maine SBDC earns full national accreditation

Photo / Tim Greenway

Mark Delisle, state director of Maine Small Business Development Centers, helps guide entrepreneurs from a good idea to a viable business. Maine SBDC recently earned full accreditation from a national accrediting body hired by the U.S. Small Business Administration to evaluate the nationwide network of centers.

About the Maine SBDC

The Maine Small Business Development Centers provide no-cost, comprehensive business management assistance to small businesses throughout Maine through its network of certified business advisors. It is a program of the U.S. Small Business Administration, the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development and the University of Southern Maine and accredited by America's SBDC. To request a business advising appointment call 207-780-4420.

by Staff

The Maine Small Business Development Centers earned full accreditation from the national accrediting body under contract with the U.S. Small Business Administration to evaluate the nationwide network of centers.

Maine SBDC, like its counterparts nationwide, provides free business advising and training to entrepreneurs who aspire to start or grow a small businesses. Over its 41-year history, the Maine SBDC has helped tens of thousands of clients to successfully create jobs, access capital and create new businesses.

A team of reviewers visited the program and conducted a thorough assessment of the statewide program. The accreditation committee voted to fully accredit the Maine SBDC with several commendations and areas of best practices within the national program.

"This accreditation is really a testament to the strength of the Maine SBDC program and the expertise of its business advisors and staff," Mark Delisle, Maine SBDC's state director, said in a news release. "Our team is truly dedicated to improving Maine's economy and communities by helping small businesses start, grow and succeed."

The national accreditation, which is reevaluated every five years, is based on standards derived from the Baldrige Criteria for Performance Excellence that measure "effective and efficient program delivery."

"Reaching full accreditation helps to eliminate inconsistencies between the nationwide network of 1,000 SBDC locations and over 4,000 SBDC business advisors," Maine SBDC stated in a news release. "It creates a standard that defines excellence while providing an approach to achieving high performance.